Ken Warkentin’s Friday, June 10 & Saturday, June 11 Selections

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Friday, June 10 Selections

RACE 1

3-Stormy Daniels – Miscued as the heavy favorite @ Monticello two starts back, then got parked @ Yonkers, has faced tougher N/W 5 @ The Meadows, draws inside third start for new connections, who have been red hot in this series

8-Shoemaker Hanover – Capitalized on a perfect John Calabrese drive from the rail & scored with the best mile of his season as favorite @ Freehold, moves outside, but this 9YO deserves a long look for his consistency

9-Life Well Lived – Guided to a confident win over an off track two starts back, then stepped up too high in class, stuck outside a wide-open field, but owns some gate speed

RACE 2

1-Marvelous Kiss – Got caught in a shuffle, shook loose late, yet didn’t have the same punch she had two starts back, now lands the rail in a field ripe for the taking

7-Misatude – Rallied to just miss in both starts on the comeback trail, her latest came after a real slow start from post eight, winless filly stuck outside, but looms large

2-Betabcool N – 12YO veteran one for 21 this season, just missed with a perfect trip two starts back, severely pace compromised last out @ Yonkers & returns to The Big M with an improved post

RACE 3

4-Candell – Has experienced some resurgence recently with a win & second @ Freehold, draws well here with a chance to trip out & exploit a soft spot

9-Atomic Rei – Classy 14YO draws outside again, but comes off a decent acclimating mile, picking up minor spoils with a strong finish, can get there with the right set up

7-Magazine Theme – His recent theme has been winning, as in his last two in a row against comparable stock @ Freehold, 3YO finding his best stride in a toss up division

RACE 4

2-Ken’s Walner – Walner colt displayed some talent at two, solid 3YO debut from post eight over an off track, forgive the early miscue last out & moves inside for Team Toscano

3-Stamped By Lindy – Muscle Hill gelding learning his lessons well with his first two wins @ Harrah’s Philadelphia recently & draws well here to engineer a patient stalking trip

4-Whistle A Song – Muscle Hill filly has stepped it up in her last two, flashing better late trot & closed from a tough spot in a NJSS Conso, draws better & could be on the verge

RACE 5

7-Mindtrip – Now a stablemate to last Saturday’s upsetter Casual Cool via the fresh claim, this Big M lover loves the long stretch here & switches to The White Knight

5-Raptors Flight N – 9YO stayed on a nice roll recently with a perfect trip score @ Harrah’s Philadelphia with Tetrick, remains strong in the win column & big threat to repeat

1-Lucid Dreams – Simply paid the price for a slow start from post eight in his Big M debut, was on a form spree @ Tioga Downs before that & moves inside for his second start since the switch to a high percentage barn

RACE 6

3-Ideal Star N – Only a precious few missed the boat on this light bulb popper in last Saturday’s finale when he exploded to a sparkling new mark at age eight, while debuting for a new barn & now stands out from a better post

2-Cliffhanger – Took a mark of 1:50.3 here in 2021, regained form recently @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws inside, yet his one for 17 record this season is a concern

4-Lincoln Boulevard – Missed 24 days off a sick scratch prior to his last effort, 4YO was nosed out against N/W 5 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia back on April 15, draws an improved post & could surprise this bunch

RACE 7

5-Peter Pumpkineater – 14YO rallied for an upset here back in mid-April, getting some class relief back here, reunited with James Slendorn & launches midpack in a softer spot

2-Deerfield Beach – Veteran 8YO whose lone win came @ The Big M this season, has come around with the recent barn change to Team Estrada & draws inside an impossible puzzle

3-Always As Fast – Fresh off an easy romp as the heavy favorite @ Freehold & just missed before that, draws inside here for Joe Lee to maintain his momentum

RACE 8

1-Letsdoit S – Team Melander Hambo eligible brushed n crushed from post nine in a dazzling 3YO debut, moves inside with lots to build on in a competitive mixed bag

3-Shinkansen – Abruptly took charge & went down the road to a new mark of 1:52.1 last week, rewarded with an improved post & looms large despite the bump up in class

5-Balenciaga – Sports a 1:52.2 mark @ The Big M last season, scored decisively in his third start off the bench @ Tioga Downs, so figures to be revved up for this intriguing match up

RACE 9

6-Alta Engen – Displayed loads of potential when he score back-to-back in April, missed a month prior to last Saturday’s effort, which was much better, could be ready to bear down again & resume his US career for a sharp barn

1-Primary Colors – Surprised more than a few when he blitzed a pretty strong group with a career best 1:48 in an impressive Big M, followed up with a speedy nose loss @ Pocono, back here on the rail

3-Decision Day – One of those steady geldings who seldom takes a week off, fresh off a gutsy new mark of 1:48.3, he thundered home to hit the board in :26.3 despite the double class hike & draws inside again

RACE 10

2-A New Leader – 3YO Trixton gelding just missed in the slop three starts back, bumped into a 1:52.1 winner last Saturday, lands in a prime spot to trip out & break through at a price

9-Champagne On Ice – Freshened with an energetic qualifier last Saturday for Per Engblom, returns at a reduced level & blasting off from post nine is not out of the question

4-Hammer Time – Dropped into an ideal spot for his third start off the bench & bumped into an inexplicable Gotwuteverittakes & draws well to stalk the speed

RACE 11

4-Annabelle Hanover – Was forced to grind first over from post eight & didn’t fade much, remains at a reduced level second time Lasix & draws better for Team Cullipher

2-Kathy’s Moment – Reeled off three in a row & lowered her mark to 1:51.4 before getting shuffled & angled too late last Saturday, draws inside again & remains a big threat

8-Cousin Mary – Mary worked out a golden second over trip from the rail & just missed in a vicious sprint to the wire, moves outside, yet remains a live item

RACE 12

6-It’s Rigged – Nothing wrong with his Big M debut & first start for Juan Cano, rallied to hit the board for The Money Man & lands in a soft spot here

4-Haymitch – Has consistently landed on the edges in the GSY 1 Series, steady stalking type draws better & might be in line to stalk n pop a wide open finale

7-Perseverant – Followed a blowout win @ Freehold with a fading fifth here last week, 9YO makes his fifth start on the comeback trail & has a chance to conjure up some back class

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, June 11 Selections

RACE 1
2-Bronsons Delight – Rallied from tenth & last to grab a small piece of the pie last week, draws better & perhaps Juan Cano can coax some early speed to stalk within striking range
3-Bytheway Hanover – If you saw the way he thundered home for his two upsets this season you’d be pretty sure he could blow by these on his best day & post gods have been kind
1-Our Third Rock – Only one for his last 60, yet actually thought this one might’ve been poised for a serious effort & of course he got parked through a stern pace, now drops into the GSY, gets the rail & the patient John Calabrese
RACE 2
3-Stonebridge Reef – That was some gutsy 4YO comeback win with a :25.3, returns to The Big M in a softer spot for Chris Ryder & has potential untapped
4-River Ness – Took a new mark of 1:49.4 in a lively 3YO debut back on April 23, then fell off the rails, so to speak, regrouped with a confident qualifier @ Gaitway for Team Burke
2-Captaingiddyupngo – Team Alagna lightly-raced son of The Captain did some nice work & gained some seasoning in the Weiss Series @ Pocono, solid qualifier chasing the tentative first-timer All About The Hunt
RACE 3
2-Scott On the Rocks – Improving 4YO scored a nose decision & took a new mark of 1:53.3 two starts back @ Pocono, looks poised for his Big M GSY Series debut with an inside draw
1-Know Your Roll – Just missed with a sharp late move three starts back, lands in a similar soft spot to stalk n pop with a solid push off from the rail & similar effort
10-Kingofthejungle – 11YO warhorse & steady closer, 1:53.4 win last month was the best mile of his season, stuck outside, but some mayhem & right trip could put him in contention
RACE 4
6-Peyton Hanover – Shuffled to the back of the bus in the NJSS Final, but won a division right off the hop & finished second to the champ Fashion Schooner, serious contender for Team Melander
4-Penelope J – Walner filly was runner up to the standout Yanaba with more than willing late trot, now makes her third start off the bench for Team Toscano & eligible to step up
5-Frank The Elder – Frank has done pretty well in just four career starts for Team Burke, like the way he got nosed out in a NJSS consolation, then chased a 1:52.1 winner Finn Palema last Saturday
RACE 5
3-Linnycalledfrankie – Note the big effort to rally for third in :26.2 chasing the 1:48 bearcat Primary Colors two starts back, then caught in a tough spot @ Yonkers, returns to The Big M in a much softer spot & he’s overdue
2-I’m A Big Deal – Been waiting for this 1:49.3 winner here this season to wake up as he has dropped down the condition ladder, draws inside again & this might be the spot to stalk n pop
8-Bobcat Bay – Finished a solid third to a drop-down winner Alluneedisfaith N last week, draws a tougher post, but drops a notch & has blastoff capability
RACE 6
4-Captain’s Reign – 1:52.4 winner here this season continues to gather momentum since coming back from the spill in early May, another solid finish last week chasing the unusually fast 15YO
3-Brush N Crush – Shook loose a tad too late & just missed by a neck last Friday, draws inside again & remains on the verge in a very competitive division
7-Dream Out Loud N – Amazing 15YO millionaire cannoned to the front in :26.1, then pounced off fast fractions in a dazzling 1:51.3 & no doubt on a serious roll right now
RACE 7
3-Rattle My Cage – Off 22 days since equaling his lifetime mark of 1:51.3 in the slop, second by a neck from post nine in a Graduate division before that & draws inside again
1-Cindy Michelle – 11-time winner last year has really come to hand since switching to Team Toscano, just missed to JL Cruze in a wicked :26.4 last Friday & back on the rail
9-JL Cruze – The King stole a soft :58 half & sprinted home in :27 to score a nose upset last Friday, moves outside, but brimming with confidence & his gate speed puts him in play
RACE 8
7-Sheikh Yabooty N – Been struggling on the edges against better recently, yet now drops dangerously into the GSY Series for the potent team of Verruso & Spicer & worth a swing
2-Rockabilly Charm – Beaten heavy favorite was pressured through a demanding pace & got nosed out last week, draws further inside & remains on his toes in a competitive division
4-Takeittotheface – Completes the Spicer 1-2 punch, used hard from post ten & still had enough to just miss with a gallant turnaround effort last out & now moves inside
RACE 9
7-Backstreet Shadow – Team Burke millionaire got cooked in the Open @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, second to Let It Ride N here before that, gets some class relief & can do it either way
2-Ruthless Hanover – 1:47.2 performer here last season was an overzealous runner up to a 1:47.4 Carbine two weeks ago, draws inside again for his key third start off the bench & maybe this is his time to pop
4-Casual Cool – Capitalized on a slick ground-saving drive off the speed to upset with a career best of 1:48.4 last week, draws better & repeat certainly not out of the question
RACE 10
4-Bank Sea – Just missed against some pretty salty company two starts back @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & this looks like an ideal class drop n pop scenario for Juan Cano
6-Montefalco N – Has repeatedly chased sub 1:50 winners, while maintaining steady form, seems to have the best late kick of several drop-down candidates
2-TJ Blast – The Blast was able to catapult off a strong pace & upset with the best mile of his season so far, draws inside again & his form continues to cycle forward
RACE 11
3-Saying Grace N – 9YO hasn’t been heard from in his last two chasing 1:48 and change winners, yet he’s acclimated now, drops again & draws better for Team Cullipher
5-Jack’s Shadow N – 8YO was hammered down to 1-2 favorite & went all the way for a new mark of 1:50.1 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, returns to The Big M in rejuvenated form
7-Caviart Luca – Dropped to this level & just missed with wicked pace at both ends from post nine, three weeks off & post seven, but this classy Team Burke millionaire rates highly off that last effort
RACE 12
7-Grateful Kiss – Grinded gamely first over from post ten & still almost got to What The Luck, another demanding post, but an excellent acclimating mile & chance to turn the tables
6-What The Luck – Rated nicely & held on as the even money favorite for his new barn, fresh threat has a big chance to keep it going with a new lease on life
3-Bilbo Hanover – Snapped a long losing skid with a well-timed drive by David Glasser in the GSY Series, classy 12YO draws inside to stay on his current form spree
RACE 13
1-Line Em Up – Competitive against N/W 6 @ Plainridge this Spring, makes her second start for Andrew Harris, drops into a wide-open finale & lands the rail
4-Temptation Eyes – Ships in sporting lively recent form @ Rosecroft, this is a softer spot, draws well & might be the one to knock off with her controlling speed
2-Always A Miracle – Has gone two-for-two in this jurisdiction for Mark Ford, including a wire-to-wire from post eight here two starts back, dangerous stalking from post two again